ASUH and GSO pass resolutions supporting sustainability

The following resolution was adopted by ASUH during Spring, 2012. The same resolution was also adopted by GSO. Sam King was a principal author of this resolution.

ASUH Resolution Supporting Sustainability:

WHEREAS, In the prior FY2011 UHM electrical costs were $21,093,759 or $1,322 per Full Time Equivalent student accounting for 15% of their tuition.

WHEREAS, In the current FY2012 the estimated UHM Electrical costs will approach $28,000,000 or $1,750 per student accounting for 20% of their tuition.

The Associated Students of the University of Hawaii,

RECOGNIZING that while annual tuition increased $264 from $8400 to $8664, the cost of electricity per student will have increased $428 per year;

NOTING that the State Legislature has continued to partially fund UHM CIP needs but that the rate of investment is inadequate to contain the effects of “Peak Oil”, with West Texas Intermediate spot prices now over $1-6 per barrel and is expected to continue to rise over the summer;

RECOGNIZING that the cap on tuition increases can only mean a reduction in other program and program support services;

RECOGNIZING that the following three programs have already been fully vetted and prepared by UHM facilities;

RECOMMENDS that, in addition to the existing energy retro-fit projects UH Facilities has undertaken, the University of Hawaii should fully fund or lobby the legislature to fund or authorize UH to issue bonds in order to fund the following three cost-saving, tuition-dollar-saving, sustainability projects:

1. A $15,500,000 UH Manoa Campus-wide Lighting retro-fit project which will earn approximately $1,000,000 in HECO rebates and reduce UHM’s electricity usage by 10%, saving approximately $3,000,000 per year and paying back the initial investment in 6 years,

2. A $35,000,000 Photo-voltaic system distributed throughout the campus which will provide 5mega-watts of renewable energy production, resulting in a 7-8% reduction in UHM electricity costs and paying back the initial investment in 8 years,